Heartbeat Romances #18

In "As Time Goes By," Bill Moreton returns to his family home to care for Melanie, the orphaned niece of a late friend, unaware that she’s grown into a young woman he hasn’t seen in twelve years. Now seventeen and strikingly beautiful, Melanie’s return stirs long-buried memories—and Lindsay Moreton’s quiet jealousy begins to surface.

When Fred's girlfriend shows up at the Easter Parade wearing a hat so bold it turns heads, he’s mortified—until David steps in, genuinely admiring the design. The next day, David reveals he’s a journalist, and the moment takes on a new meaning.

Jill Lockhurst finds herself caught in a whirlwind of nerves after borrowing a mink coat from work, the luxurious fur sparking both admiration and anxiety. As the evening unfolds, her growing dread over the coat’s safety threatens to unravel more than just her composure—her relationship with Tom hangs in the balance. With Mr Gluck’s presence adding an unexpected layer of tension, Jill must confront what really matters beneath the surface of appearances.

Delia’s ready for a dreamy romance in Italy, but her plans take an unexpected turn when she meets Denny Lang, the no-nonsense travel agent with just a few days to convince her to take the trip. As their paths cross in a whirlwind of practicality and longing, the spark between them feels anything but routine.

Sara, tired of summer crowds and stolen moments, flees to the city for a break—only to find herself drawn into a new kind of tension, where the lines between escape and attraction blur. With Mike and Jim orbiting her path, she’s caught between old habits and the quiet possibility of something different.

Jane waits by the mailbox, heart in her throat, convinced Keith’s silence means the end of their romance—her mind racing with wild escapes and dramatic farewells, all just so he’ll come running. But when the truth finally arrives, it’s not a grand gesture, just a mix-up in the mail.

When Carol Symonds wakes from a haunting dream of being left behind by her former lover Paul Barrett, she’s driven to track him down—only to discover that the man she once knew may not remember her at all. A chance reunion stirs long-buried feelings, but with past wounds still raw, neither is sure if their connection can survive the distance of time.

George proposes to Shirley with a dream of escaping suburbia for life on a houseboat, but when the reality of their new life turns harsh, Shirley flees. As George faces a new path—enlisting in the navy—Shirley must decide if she can find her way back before it’s too late.

Eddie’s relentless pursuit of Joan starts with a club outing and never slows down—she’s never asked, only claimed. When he suddenly disappears, the silence forces her to see him in a new light, and the weight of his absence makes her reconsider everything she once resented.

Ben shows up at Mandy’s parents’ lake house looking less than polished, and she’s furious—so furious she tells him to “jump in the lake.” When she hears a splash, then another, she’s stunned: is he really gone? What’s he playing at? Mandy’s about to find out just how far Ben’s willing to go to make a second impression.

Pat tries to move on after a breakup, selling off every memento of David Nichols at a jumble sale—until the last item, a treasure box of love letters, brings him back. As David arrives to buy it, their unresolved tension flares, and memories of better days begin to surface.